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Last Updated: March 15, 2008 - 3:24 PM
Best of Santa Fe 2007: Food & Dining
By Gwyneth Doland
Published: July 25, 2007
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The Chocolate Maven gang. Photo by Ursula Coyote |
Best Red and Green Chile—Ordering It On the Side Is Sacrilege
1 The Shed
113 ½ E. Palace Ave.
982-9030
Winners’ Circle: Chef Josh Carswell, whose grandparents, Thornton and Polly Carswell, first opened The Shed in 1954, sells the ground red chile powder that he uses to make his velvety red sauce. He’ll even give you the recipe. But that won’t guarantee you can replicate the stuff.
Chef Josh Carswell makes your favorite red chile at The Shed. Photo credit: Karin Golden |
The Yum Factor: “We know what local tastes demand,” owner Courtney Carswell, Josh’s father, says. “We make it taste like what they’re used to tasting in people’s homes.” This does occasionally pose a problem with tourists who come in unsure of what to expect. Courtney Carswell says this is less of a problem now than it was 10 years ago. “People’s tastes throughout the country have become more sophisticated,” he says.
Applause, Applause: “It feels terrific to be recognized for something that we work hard at day in and day out,” Courtney Carswell says.
2 Tomasita’s
500 S. Guadalupe St., 983-5721
3 Tia Sophia’s
210 W. San Francisco St., 983-9880
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Best New Mexican Restaurant When You Need to Get Your Sopaipilla On
1 Tomasita’s
500 S. Guadalupe St.
983-5721
Winners’ Circle: We always thought it was the chile, the gallons and gallons of glorious chile, that made this old railroad station restaurant so popular. But maybe we were wrong. Maybe all this time it’s been the perfectly puffy sopaipillas. Whether you’re there for the sopas, for a post-farmers market brunch or a steak and a margarita, Tomasita’s hits home every time.
The Yum Factor: Manager Carlos Flores attributes the restaurant’s success to its consistency. “You can come one day and taste the chile or the sopaipillas and if you come a day or a week later it’s going to taste the same,” he assures. Flores is also fond of the Mexican steak platter, a sirloin and relleno that he says is unique to Tomasita’s.
Applause, Applause: “This is great!” Flores says. “We love it!”
2 Maria’s New Mexican Kitchen
555 W. Cordova Road, 983-7929
3 The Shed
113 ½ E. Palace Ave., 982-9030
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Best Mexican Restaurant Para Frijoles y Mas
1 El Parasol
1833 Cerrillos Road
995-8015
Winners’ Circle: In 1966, Javier Atencio’s grandparents opened their first restaurant, El Paragua, in Española; El Parasol, the quick service version of the original, now has locations in Los Alamos and Santa Fe. All serve many of the same homestyle New Mexican and Mexican food, but the take-out-only
From left: Flor, Jessica, Mirna, Alicia and Erica are ready to feed you at El Parasol. Photo credit: Daiken Nelson |
location here has several unique menu items: a corned beef burrito with red chile, a calabacitas burrito and a foot-long chile cheese dog. Between those three items, El Parasol pretty much has Santa Fe covered.
The Yum Factor: Atencio says that a second Santa Fe location is in the planning stages right now. The Southside El Parasol will be located in the new industrial park in Rancho Viejo. A groundbreaking is expected in early fall.
Applause, Applause: “It’s wonderful!” Atencio says of the restaurant’s first award in this category. “It’s a lot of hard work and effort,” he admits.
2 Mariscos “La Playa”
537 W. Cordova Road, 982-2790
3 Los Potrillos
1947 Cerrillos Road, 992-0550
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Best Breakfast Burrito Because It’s the Most Important Meal of the Day
1 Tia Sophia’s
210 W. San Francisco St.
983-9880
Winners’ Circle: These perpetually popular burritos are huge, fairly priced and come out lightning fast. What more could you want? “As long as I can remember we’ve won it and I don’t see any use in changing the recipe,” owner Nick Maryol says.
The Yum Factor: When cookbook author and Food Network star Giada De Laurentiis was filming in Santa Fe recently, she stopped in to try a breakfast
burrito at Tia’s. “I’ve never seen anybody dip a piece of breakfast burrito into a little 2-ounce cup of chile,” Maryol says. “It was like watching a geisha—the precision and control was amazing.” The exposure on Giada’s Weekend Getaways has been good for the restaurant even if the experience was a little nerve-wracking for its owner. “She’s so pretty she’s kind of intimidating,” he admits. “I was trying to act casual but I could feel myself failing.”
Applause, Applause: “We’re really happy about it,” Maryol says. “I really love all of our customers and I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to carry on the tradition that my parents started.”
2 Santa Fe Baking Company
504 W. Cordova Road, 988-4292
3 El Parasol
1833 Cerrillos Road, 995-8015
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Best Enchiladas. Mmm. Enchiladas.
1 The Shed
113 ½ E. Palace Ave.
982-9030
Winners’ Circle: The Shed serves between 400 and 900 customers a day and many, many of those orders are for The Shed’s delectable enchiladas. Made with the blue corn indigenous to New Mexico, the tortillas are slathered with chile, sprinkled with cheese and diced onion then briefly baked. They are irresistibly good.
The Yum Factor: Owner Courtney Carswell cringes every time a fearful tourist orders the chile on the side. “It ruins the integrity of the dish!” he moans. “What’s a couple of tortillas with cheese and onion?”
Applause, Applause: “We’re fortunate. In this business it’s a question of luck and hard work, but we’re hanging in there,” Carswell says.
2 Tomasita’s
500 S. Guadalupe St., 983-5712
3 Maria’s New Mexican Kitchen
555 W. Cordova Road, 983-7929
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Best Italian Ravioli, No Matter What They’re Stuffed With
1 Il Piatto Cucina Italiana
95 W. Marcy St.
984-1091
Winners’ Circle: Chef Matthew Yohalem and his kitchen crew make a lot of pasta for this little Marcy Street restaurant. In fact, Yohalem says that 20 percent of his manpower is devoted just to pasta. “I make so many different kinds of ravioli!” he says when asked to name one. “I make them in circles, half moons, all different sizes, shapes and colors. Right now I’m making one with lobster and one with shiitake and goat cheese.
Il Piatto’s chef Matthew Yohalem shows off some of his freshly-made pasta. Photo credit: Chelsea Freeman |
The Yum Factor: Be sure to check the chalkboard as you walk through the dining room. Some of the most interesting pasta dishes start out as specials. The most popular often find a home on the menu, which Yohalem changes as many as six times per year.
Applause, Applause: “This is great!” the chef, who could never, ever go on a low-carb diet, says.
2 Pranzo Italian Grill
Sanbusco Center, 540 Montezuma Ave., 984-2645
3 Andiamo!
322 Garfield St., 995-9595
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Best Asian Food, Whether It’s Sushi or Lo Mein
1 Mu Du Noodles
1494 Cerrillos Road
983-1411
Winners’ Circle: At Santa Fe’s most eclectic Asian restaurant, the Chinese-born owner, Mu Jing Lau, delves into the farthest reaches of Asia to give your palate the ride of its life. From simple spring rolls to fiery curries, slippery noodles and plenty of tofu dishes, you’ll never have a boring meal here.
Leia Barnett prepares to deliver a plate of deliciousness at Mu Du Noodles. Photo credit: Chelsea Freeman |
The Yum Factor: This year Mu says, “I did a little dance with dim sum.” But the dance was just too labor intensive to keep up. Since then she’s moved on to other ideas. This summer she began selling her fabulous noodle salads through local coffee shops. If that goes well we may see more of Mu’s food popping up in unexpected places.
Applause, Applause: “I’m very excited about this!” Mu says. “I love it when we win!”
2 Jinja Bar & Bistro
510 N. Guadalupe St., Suite P, 982-4321
3 Chow’s Asian Bistro
720 Saint Michaels Drive, Suite Q, 471-7120
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Best Ethnic Restaurant Because It’s One World
1 India Palace
227 Don Gaspar Ave.
986-5859
Winners’ Circle: When you have a craving for lamb korma there is absolutely nothing that will satisfy like a trip to India Palace. As owner Narendra Kloty explains, “Everything here is cooked from scratch, from the basic, raw materials and that is, on a subconscious level, what customers notice and appreciate.”
Owner Narendra Kloty and the staff at India Palace serve made-from-scratch Indian food. Photo credit: Daiken Nelson |
The Yum Factor: “There are a lot of things you want to do but you can’t and you have to compromise,” Kloty says of the restaurant business. Although it is available from vendors, the cooks at India Palace go to the effort of clarifying butter to make their own ghee, an essential Indian cooking fat. Kloty remembers that as a child, his family used every ounce of milk from their water buffalo, drinking some and using the rest for cheese, yogurt and ghee. “I don’t have water buffalo here but I do have milk and butter and from the butter we make ghee ourselves. These are not well advertised things but this how we do it.”
Applause, Applause: “It feels great, of course. The pressure is there, every year, to win,” Kloty says. “I am very fortunate to be here. It was destiny that picked me to be here and I am very grateful.”
2 Mu Du Noodles
1494 Cerrillos Road, 983-1411
3 Jinja Bar & Bistro
510 N. Guadalupe St., Suite P, 982-4321
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Best Restaurant for Vegetarians Who Can Not Just Live on Cheese
1 Mu Du Noodles
1494 Cerrillos Road
983-1411
Winners’ Circle: Oh you think it would be nice to live on nothing but Brie, but after a while, you must admit, even cheese gets boring. Breathe life back into your tired meat-free existence with a palate-expanding trip to the pan-Asian Mu Du Noodles, where a bowl of Malaysian laksa or a plate of pad thai will make you forget all about cheddar.
The Yum Factor: Pay particular attention to the nightly specials because some of the most inventive vegetarian dishes can be found there. And remember to ask if a particularly tempting dish can be made meat-free; it’s almost always possible.
Applause, Applause: “Thank you, Santa Fe Reporter!” Mu says.
2 Chocolate Maven Bakery & Cafe
821 W. San Mateo Road, 984-1980
3 Annapurna Chai House and World Vegetarian Café
905 W. Alameda St., 988-9688
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Best Brunch—Are You Done With the Sports Section Yet?
1 Chocolate Maven Bakery & Café
821 W. San Mateo Road
984-1980
Winners’ Circle: What is brunch? Is it breakfast for people who were out partying until dawn? Or lunch for people who’ve been off and running since dawn? Ideally it covers some of both territories, with a mixture of savory and sweet items. This is what Chocolate Maven does so well. The menu includes brunch musts like blintzes, quiche, waffles, breakfast burritos, omelets, sandwiches and granola.
The Yum Factor: What could be more restorative than a midday meal of multigrain pancakes or crème brûlée french toast? Why, that same meal accompanied by Chocolate Maven’s fabulous hot chocolate!
Applause, Applause: “It’s so much work and so much attention to detail that when we get this kind of recognition, it makes it so worthwhile,” owner Daram Khalsa says.
2 Harry’s Roadhouse
96 Old Las Vegas Hwy., 989-4629
3 The Bishop’s Lodge Ranch Resort & Spa
1297 Bishop’s Lodge Road, 983-6377
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Best Place to Order a Steak, From Rare to Well Done
1 Steaksmith at El Gancho
104B Old Las Vegas Hwy.
988-3333
Winners’ Circle: When you want a nice big piece of meat in a classic steakhouse environment, Steaksmith is the place to go. Owner Tom Vimont says his favorite dinner is Steaksmith’s New York strip done pepper-steak-style with a port wine demi-glace mustard sauce, although he admits that with all of those big flavors, “it can be a little busy.” We think he’s exaggerating.
The Yum Factor: Since introducing a full-service menu in the lounge, Steaksmith’s bar has begun to cultivate its own set of fans. “It’s a little less formal, a little faster and a lot of people find it works better for them,” Vimont says.
Applause, Applause: “It’s nice to win. Hopefully we’ll be serving steaks 34 years from now,” Vimont says.
2 The Bull Ring
150 Washington Ave., Suite 108, 983-3328
3 Rio Chama
414 Old Santa Fe Trail, 955-0765
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Best Place for Seafood—Yes, We Are Aware the Ocean Is Far Away
1 Mariscos “La Playa”
537 Cordova Road
982-2790
Winners’ Circle: When Santa Feans want a seafood fix we want it splashed
Mariscos : As exciting as a Mexican vacation but quicker and less expensive. Photo credit: Karin Golden |
with the flavors of our southern shores. Drizzled with lime juice and dappled with flecks of chile, the camarones and ostiones at Mariscos have a way of transporting the diner straight to a Mexican beach. Just remember: You can’t eat at Mariscos wearing your bikini. No shirt, no shoes, no service.
The Yum Factor: In the heat of summer, the cocteles—made with a combination of shrimp, octopus, fish, oysters and scallops bathed in tangy tomato and clam juice and garnished with diced onion, avocado, tomato and cucumber—are exceptionally refreshing. And now you can enjoy those same dishes at the Albuquerque location opened by owners Nora Lopez and Luis Ortega. Next year they hope to expand to Taos.
Applause, Applause: “Thank you very much. What a surprise!” owner Nora Lopez says.
2 Santa Fe Steamer
3242 Cerrillos Road, 438-3862
3 Tie: Geronimo
724 Canyon Road, 982-1500
and El Nido Restaurant
1591 Bishop’s Lodge Road, 988-4340
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Best Local Pizza—Wanna Arm Wrestle For the Last Piece?
1 Upper Crust Pizza
329 Old Santa Fe Trail
982-0000
Winners’ Circle: Walking down East De Vargas Street between Upper Crust and the San Miguel Mission, you can’t help but notice that the air is
You can smell Upper Crust’s pizza from a mile away (almost). Photo credit: Chelsea Freeman |
not-so-delicately perfumed with the aroma of baking pizza. Sometimes that hot dough smell hits you like a brick, erasing any good intentions you might have had about eating a plain bean burrito or small green salad for lunch. Next thing you know you’re gripping a stromboli the size of a canoe and there are slabs of pepperoni and Canadian bacon littering your lap. It’s OK. It happens to the best of us.
The Yum Factor: Upper Crust has such a long list of toppings (from pine nuts to pineapple, chicken to chorizo) that you could spend the rest of your life making up new combinations.
Applause, Applause: “We’re very happy to win again,” manager John Nardine says, “and we thank you all.”
2 Il Vicino
321 W. San Francisco St., 986-8700
3 Rooftop Pizzeria
60 E. San Francisco St., Suite 301,
984-0008
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Best Restaurant When You’re Eating with Children, or Possibly Behaving Like One Yourself
1 Cowgirl Bar & Grill
319 S. Guadalupe St
982-2565
Winners’ Circle: If you’re the type of person who demands white linen napkins, freshly polished silver and perfectly behaved children at the dinner table then you might be disappointed by dinner at Cowgirl. If, on the other hand, you think that a little barbecue sauce on your nose is the mark of a fine meal, that children are best behaved after being permitted to exhaust themselves in their own corral—and maybe, after two margaritas, you wish you could join them in that corral—then Cowgirl is the place for you.
The Yum Factor: In addition to a revamped Kiddie Corral, the Cowgirl recently unveiled a game room, complete with pinball and other popular arcade games.
Applause, Applause: “Thanks again, Reporter!” co-owner Nicholas Ballas says. “We’ve spent a lot of time making this place fun for kids and we’re happy that people have responded.”
2 Harry’s Roadhouse
96 Old Las Vegas Hwy., Suite B, 989-4629
3 Zia Diner
326 S. Guadalupe St., 988-7008
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Best Dessert Because Some People Say Sugar Is Bad But We Are Not Those People
1 Chocolate Maven Bakery and Café
821 W. San Mateo Road
984-1980
Winners’ Circle: It’s worth making a trip to Chocolate Maven just for dessert. Although it’s tempting to fill up on lunch here, it would be a travesty to leave without a piece of fruit pie, a chocolate-dipped cookie, a slice of Mayan chile chocolate cake or a scoop of dulce de leche ice cream.
Dessert for breakfast? Why not? Photo credit: Daiken Nelson |
The Yum Factor: “We have a nice, happy kitchen,” owner Daram Khalsa says. “It’s food made by happy chefs and I think you can feel it. I think the food picks up the vibe of who’s cooking.” To make Khalsa’s favorite dessert, he says, “You take a brownie, you cut that in half, fill it with homemade dulce de leche ice cream, put it back in the freezer and then dunk the whole thing in dark chocolate. On a hot July or August day it’s the best.”
Applause, Applause: “We’re spoiled,” Khalsa admits. “But we love to win!”
2 Harry’s Roadhouse
96B Old Las Vegas Hwy., 989-4629
3 Santacafé
231 Washington Ave., 984-1788
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Best Bread Because Low-Carb Diets Make People Miserable
1 Sage Bakehouse
535 Cerrillos Road, Suite C,
820-7243
Winners’ Circle: Sage Bakehouse sells fresh, hot loaves of bread directly
Freshly-baked loaves take time to cool off at Sage Bakehouse. Photo credit: Daiken Nelson |
from the bakery but it also sells bread to local grocery stores and restaurants. This ubiquity isn’t responsible for the bread’s popularity—the opposite is true. From baguette to boule, sourdough to paisano, Sage has mastered the art of baking bread at high altitude.
The Yum Factor: Sage’s mini paisano loaves make fantastic sandwiches, especially if the bread has been reheated briefly in a hot oven.
Applause, Applause: “Thank you very much for having this special category for bread!” Owner Amy Cox says. “We are absolutely thrilled that people like what we do so much. We’d like to thank everyone for their support and everyone who helps us do what we do.”
2 Cloud Cliff Bakery, Café & Artspace
1805 Second St., 983-6254
3 Whole Foods Market
753 Cerrillos Road, 992-1700
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Best Grocery Store; Please Don’t Leave Your Cart in the Parking Lot
1 Trader Joe’s
530 W. Cordova Road
995-8145
Winners’ Circle: Gourmet frozen pizzas, craft beers and recycled paper towels. Trader Joe’s sells everything on your last-minute shopping list. By saving us a lot of time, hassle and cash, TJ’s lands in first place for the second year in a row.
Fill up your cart at Trader Joe’s. Photo credit: Karin Golden |
The Yum Factor: When you’re shopping for a big party or a little get together, Trader Joe’s is the place to go for food that doesn’t look like you bought it at the grocery store. Beautiful cheeses, fancy chips, fabulous frozen appetizers, pre-cut crudités and well-priced wine ensure your success as a host.
Applause, Applause: “It is such an honor to be selected as this year’s best grocery retailer,” store captain Myles Bradshaw said. “We want to thank all of our customers and the readers. We are thrilled to be part of the Santa Fe community and look forward to many years of serving this wonderful neighborhood.”
2 Whole Foods Market
753 Cerrillos Road,
992-1700
3 La Montañita Co-op
913 W. Alameda St., 984-2852
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Best Wine by the Glass Whether You’re Toasting or Guzzling
1 Pranzo Italian Grill
Sanbusco Center, 540 Montezuma Ave.
984-2645
Winners’ Circle: A restaurant with a wide selection of wines by the glass allows adventurous eaters to be equally adventurous with what they’re
Owner Michael O’Reilly shows a wine selection at Pranzo. Photo credit: Chelsea Freeman |
drinking. This welcoming Italian eatery offers 15 wines by the glass and each of those wines can be ordered in two sizes: a 6.3-ounce glass, which is equivalent to one quarter of a bottle, or a 9-ounce glass they call “gigante.” Because Pranzo’s customers are 90 percent local, owner Michael O’Reilly says, they’ve got a keen eye for a balance of value and quality. That’s why, he says, “about 80 percent of our sales are 9-ounce glasses.”
The Yum Factor: If you know your party will be drinking more than one glass, consider making reservations for a Sunday, when from 1-9:45 pm, you can buy any bottle in the cellar for half price.
Applause, Applause: “I like it!” O’Reilly says. “Anything that points out excellence is good for us.”
2 Rio Chama
414 Old Santa Fe Trail, 955-0765
3 Santacafé
231 Washington Ave., 984-1788
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Best Margarita, Frozen or On the Rocks
1 Maria’s New Mexican Kitchen
555 W. Cordova Road
983-7929
Winners’ Circle: Presented with the enormous margarita menu and the relatively straightforward dinner menu at Maria’s, most diners will spend considerably more time pondering the margaritas. There’s something about a cold margarita after a big plate of carne adovada that makes life seem worth living. And Maria’s remains the best place to get that feeling. Santa Feans remain so committed to Maria’s margaritas simply because owner Al Lucero is so committed to making such freaking great margaritas.
The Yum Factor: Lucero regularly updates the cocktail menu with new tequilas and new combinations. Some of the most recent additions to the margarita menu include the Caballo de Villa, made with 7 Leguas tequila (which is named for Pancho Villa’s horse). Maria’s new Mötley Crüe margarita is made with lead singer Vince Neil’s brand of tequila.
Applause, Applause: “We are ecstatic!” Lucero says.
2 Tomasita’s
500 S. Guadalupe St., 983-5721
3 Del Charro Saloon
101 W. Alameda St., 982-4333
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Best Place for Cocktails Because Last Time We Checked Drinking Was Still Legal
1 Rio Chama
414 Old Santa Fe Trail
955-0765
Winners’ Circle: It is widely speculated that during the legislative session, senators and representatives get more business done in the deep booths and armchairs in the bar at Rio Chama than in the well-lit halls of the Roundhouse next door. Gov. Bill Richardson is known to hold court next to the fireplace and General Manager Jim Hargrove says he’s happy for the business during what is otherwise a slow season. “We’re always happy when the governor comes in. We take it as a compliment.” But that’s only a few weeks every winter. For the rest of the year it’s just regular folks in the bar sipping on house-made mojitos and ordering food from the irresistible bar menu.
The Yum Factor: This summer Hargrove says that Rio Chama will unveil a major expansion, including a 12,000-bottle wine cellar and private dining room that will seat 30 to 35. They’re also bringing back the old patio and patio bar.
Applause, Applause: “Thanks, we appreciate it,” Hargrove says.
2 Del Charro Saloon
101 W. Alameda St., 982-4333
3 Coyote Café and Cantina
132 W. Water St., 983-1615
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Best Local Independent Coffee/Tea House Where the Word “Grande” is Verboten.
1 Ohori’s Coffee, Tea and Chocolate
1098 ½ South St. Francis Drive
982-9692
507 Old Santa Fe Trail
988-7026
Winners’ Circle: Ohori’s is the home-grown coffee shop that wakes up
Crawford Crews grinds a pound of freshly roasted coffee at Ohori’s. Photo credit: Daiken Nelson |
Santa Fe every morning. “No big commercial [coffee house] will ever be able to do what I do,” the general manager at Ohori’s, Tai Ayers, says. “Part of what we do is roasting for high elevation, but our roaster can only do 30 pounds at a time so we could never be that big.”
The Yum Factor: Ohori’s is known for freshly roasted coffee, but tea is becoming more and more prominent. Ayers recently added several new high-quality oolong teas to her selection of rare teas. “They’re some of the purest forms of teas. You don’t need sweeteners or milk because they have so much rich flavor.”
Applause, Applause: “We love winning,” Ayers says. “We feel very supported by the community. We continue to do well because we’re supported by people who shop locally.”
2 Santa Fe Baking Co.
504 W. Cordova Road, 988-4292
3 Java Joe’s
2801 Rodeo Road, 474-5282
604 N. Guadalupe St., 795-7775
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Best New Restaurant with Whom You Hope to
Grow Old
1 Whole Hog Café
3006 Cerrillos Road
474-3375
Winners’ Circle: Whole Hog Café won its claim to fame when the original Arkansas restaurant’s owners, who compete as The Southern Gentlemen’s Culinary Society, won first place for their whole hog at the 2002 Memphis in May barbecue competition. Bo and Sara Barnwell, the owners of the Santa Fe store, discovered Whole Hog on a trip to visit
At Whole Hog Café, pork ribs are smoked over pecan wood then slathered with tangy sauce. Photo credit: At Whole Hog Café, pork ribs are smoked over pecan wood then slathered with tangy sauce. Photo credit: Karin Golden |
relatives in Arkansas. “I said ‘This stuff is really good!’ So I quit my real job and moved out here and opened up,” Bo Barnwell says. As it turns out, Santa Fe was ripe for a new barbecue joint, even one that originated in Arkansas. “I’m a licensee of this process but I don’t think my store feels like a chain,” Barnwell says. “I mean, I’m here every day.”
The Yum Factor: “We just worry about what comes out of our smokers. That’s our number one priority,” Bo Barnwell says. “We use pecan wood, a soft wood with a soft smoke flavor—kind of earthy, not overly pungent.”
Applause, Applause: When Barnwell called his wife to tell her that they’d won, “she flipped out!” he says. “I mean, we didn’t really think it was possible. So many people told me I was going to fail because I didn’t have green chile or corn on the cob or a turkey leg on the menu. And I just said ‘I’m going to stick to what I’m doing.’ My goal is simple: I want to be known as the best barbecue house in New Mexico.”
2 La Boca
72 W. Marcy St., 982-3433
3 Al di Là
227 Galisteo St., 983-6766
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Best Romantic Restaurant Because Nothing Says Love Like Stuffing Your Face
1 Geronimo
724 Canyon Road
982-1500
Winners’ Circle: There is something very romantic about stepping outside of your everyday rituals to do something different, something that requires you to put on a nice outfit, put a little product in your hair…and call to check the balance on your credit card. In Santa Fe we find that kind of romance in Geronimo’s gorgeous dining rooms, doting service and elaborate presentations of sublime food.
The Yum Factor: For a really special dinner, try the chef’s tasting menu. Each course comes paired with wines for an utterly extravagant evening that will leave you completely stuffed. (Hopefully not too stuffed for a little postprandial nookie.)
Applause, Applause: “It is our pleasure to serve Santa Fe,” owner Cliff Skoglund says.
2 Julian’s
(Now closed.)
3 Santacafé
231 Washington Ave., 984-1788
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Best Place to Order a Burger and Fries—See How We’re Throwing in the Fries and Mixing It Up?
1 Bobcat Bite
420 Old Las Vegas Hwy.
983-5319
Winners’ Circle: Bobcat Bite is no stranger to this category—they’ve won 7 million times before (more or less). And why? Because this pint-sized roadside burger shrine is totally devoted to the cult of the burger.
The Yum Factor: What makes those burgers so dang delicious? Well, for one thing, the meat, ground chuck and sirloin, is ground fresh every day. But John and Bonnie Eckre value flavor over fat content, preferring ground beef that is no more than 85 percent lean. “We found that if it’s a little bit leaner, the texture changes and it doesn’t taste as good,” Bonnie Eckre explains.
Applause, Applause: “Every year I keep thinking: There’s a lot of new restaurants out there and everybody’s trying something new, and one of these days [the award] is going to be taken away,” Eckre says. “We never take it for granted.”
2 Dave’s Not Here
1115 Hickcox St., 983-7060
3 Blake’s Lotaburger
404 N. Guadalupe St., 983-4915
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Best Sandwich, Hold the Mayo
1 Mucho Gourmet
1711 Llano St., Suite G
473-7703
Winners’ Circle: Hey, if you want mucho tarragon mayo on your Pollo Mucho sandwich, you got it. You can even get non-fat mayo (if you must). Mucho’s made-to-order sandwiches satisfy everyone’s special needs. The place has become so popular that you might want to call in your order for pick-up or delivery.
Sandwiches at Mucho Gourmet are all made to order. Photo credit: Sandwiches at Mucho Gourmet are all made to order. Photo credit: Karin Golden |
The Yum Factor: The new salads Mucho added last year have been a big hit. Check out the spinach and egg salad: fresh spinach topped with hard boiled egg, bacon, red onion and blue cheese.
Applause, Applause: “It feels good, like the customers are letting us know we’re doing a good job,” Shannon Currenton says. “We appreciate the kudos and we can’t wait to put the new sign up!”
2 Counter Culture
930 Baca St., 995-1105
3 Carlos’ Gospel Café
The Design Center, 618 Cerrillos Road, Suite 6, 983-1841
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Best Spot For Soup of the Day, Spoon Optional
1 Back Street Bistro
513 Camino de los Marquez
982-3500
Winners’ Circle: It’s been a banner year at Back Street Bistro. Last summer’s gray skies, followed by a particularly cold winter and rainy spring, brought more than the usual number of hungry diners looking for a comforting bowl of soup.
Back Street Bistro serves up the best soup in town—and plenty of it! Photo credit: Daiken Nelson |
The Yum Factor: Back Street is the place to go when you don’t want to feel limited by the soup du jour. The restaurant usually has 10 soups to choose from. And if you’re really hungry nobody will blink if you order two bowls.
Applause, Applause: “It always feels good to win,” owner David Jacoby says. “It shows I’m keeping my edge.”
2 Whole Foods
753 Cerrillos Road, 992-1700
3 Counter Culture
930 Baca St., 995-1105
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Best Ice Cream / Gelato / Paletas Because It’s Hot Out There
1 Häagen-Dazs Plaza Bakery
56 E. San Francisco St.
988-3858
Winners’ Circle: This 26-year-old bakery supplies bread to grocery stores, hotels and restaurants all over town. Although most of the space is occupied by the 3,000-square-foot bakery, it’s the ice cream that draws regulars in. Owner Fred Libby is particular about Häagen-Dazs, which he believes is superior to any other. But you don’t have to swear allegiance to any one brand to enjoy two scoops on a hot summer day.
Owners Patti and Fred Libby dip into their own supply at Häagen-Dazs Plaza Bakery. Photo credit: Chelsea Freeman |
The Yum Factor: Occasionally a special flavor like dulce de leche or pralines and cream will overtake vanilla’s popularity, but according to Libby, the most popular flavor in the freezer is Belgian chocolate and it’s been that way for nearly a year.
Applause, Applause: “I think that’s very kind of the community,” Fred Libby says. “We do realize that we’ve got a wonderful product. We’re happy that Santa Feans feel the same.”
2 Gelato Benissimo
328 Montezuma Ave., 984-9104 (on Guadalupe St., behind WilLee’s)
3 Tara’s Organic Ice Cream
1807 Second St., 216-9759
1807 Second St., 216-9759
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